At Maiden Priestly Ordination in Recently Erected Nigerian Diocese, Bishop Cautions against “personality cult”

Katsina, 17 July, 2024 / 4:43 PM

Priests are to be preoccupied with pastoral duties, reaching out to the people of God after the example of Jesus Christ and at His command, Bishop Gerald Mamman Musa of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina in Nigeria has said. 

In his homily during the maiden Priestly Ordination of five Deacons in his Episcopal See that Pope Francis erected in October 2023, Bishop Musa cautioned against self-exaltation that takes the form of a “personality cult”. 

“The Priest is not the same as a public servant. The Priest is a pastoral servant and there is a difference between a public servant and a pastoral servant,” the pioneer Catholic Bishop of Katsina Diocese said during the Tuesday, July 16 ordination celebration at St. Martin De Porres Cathedral of the Nigerian Diocese.

 

A public servant, he said, “is concerned about infrastructure, the welfare of the people, making roads for the people as well as many things that are physical and material; but the Priest is different because he is called to be a pastoral servant.”

The 53-year-old Catholic Bishop went on to highlight the qualities of a pastoral servant, including humility, selflessness, compassion, empathy, and attentive listening.

Unlike public servants, who focus on physical and material concerns, Priests are called to guide and protect their flock spiritually, he said. 

“In a world where people are struggling for positions of power and privileges, Jesus teaches us that leadership is about self-sacrifice,” Bishop Musa said, and called upon the five Priests-elect to give heed to Jesus’ call for humility during their Priestly ministry.

“We must live a life that is worthy of our Christian calling; we must live a life that is worthy of our vocation,” Bishop Musa said, and added, “Priests should focus on collective well-being rather than personal glory.”

He emphasized the need for Priests to be true servants”, addressing challenges that the people of God under their pastoral care face.

The Nigerian Catholic Bishop cautioned against “personality cult”, which he said “manifests itself in the church when people focus on idolizing a gifted person more than they idolize Christ.”

“Jesus spoke vehemently against personality cult when He said He who is greatest among you must be your servant, and whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” he said, referring to Matthew 23:11.

Bishop Musa called upon the five Priests-elect to cultivate a spirit of self-sacrifice and to be devotion to their Priestly ministry. 

The five Deacons ordained Priests include Samaila Nura Emmanuel, Lazarus Amen Terumbur, Yusuf Musa Abubakar, Chibuzo Victor Somadina, and Bello Kelvin Michael.

Abah Anthony John contributed to the writing of this story